8 Charnham Street

Summary:

This (with 7 Charnham Street) appear to be a pair of Victorian dwellings, and there is no evidence of an earlier dwelling on the site. They became known as "Atherton Villas", from the owners in the 1860s.

Photo Gallery:

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1810 charnham s...

Timeline:

1851 Census: No entry.

1851-1861: Probable date of building. Gibbons' building next door (now 9 Charnham Street) was occupied by the census of 1851.The Athertons appear to own most or all of Bell Mead, the low lying ground between The Lamb Inn, Charnham Street and the River Kennet and River Dun. (See 1810 map).

1894: Mr Jasper Pearce:1894 Charnham Street Floods: Marlborough Times of 17th November 1894 reported "...the inhabitants of the houses between the Bear and Mr. Gibbon's Iron Foundry were, if anything, in a worse plight. Mr Pinchen's house near the Fire Station was flooded, as was also the Engine House. Mr. Skinner's shop and dining room had nearly 2ft. of water in them, and boxes and confectionery bottles were floating about. The whole of Faulknor Square was under water, and had the appearance of a large lake. All the houses in the square were flooded, and the inhabitants had to remove upstairs, provisions, where needed, being drawn up in baskets. Mr. Hidden was a considerable sufferer, as to carpets and furniture. Mr. Edmonds and Mr. Pearce had their underground kitchens invaded, and as their supply of provisions and fuel were in them, they were cut off from food and firing. In the houses of Mr. Wren and Mr. Gibbons, the water rose to a great height, and the fire in the grate at Mr. Gibbons's was put out. Mrs. Withers, too, at the Red Lion Inn, had a terrible time of it, and the houses of Mr. Andrews, Mr. Lamsden, Mr. Buxey, and Mr. Joyce were also flooded."1895 Kelly Dir: Jasper Pearce, superintendent to Prudential Assurance Co, 1 Atherton Villas, Charnham Street.

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